I was slightly dragged to watch this in St David's Hall, Cardiff. I'm not the biggest fan of classical vocals! However I was very pleasantly surprise - the odd bit went on a little too long but for a first listening, pretty good. Bought the CD for my wife as a little present (as you do). This has really grown on me over time. It's a little like how I feel about the music of Pirates of the Caribbean, once I forget about the subject then I can just enjoy the music. A topic of Mary watching her son being murdered on a cross isn't exactly a barrel of laughs or in the words of my daughter it doesn't "float my boat". However this just has just some wonderful music and vocals. It's easy to listen to, I like driving with it and is my favourite piece ... Read More:
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Grotesque, air brushed caricatures nearly put me off buying this. Not in the same league as the inspiringly beautifully natural first cover. WHERE'S THE SIMPLICITY GONE.
Slightly disappointed, just very slightly. I should have listened to my instincts and I wouldn't have missed much. I get more enjoyment from the debut album. This album is all right. But just all right. It's not got what the first album had - good choice of crossover songs. This time around they have picked songs that cannot be improved or sound similar to what's gone before. Shame because I love the first album - its one that I put on when I'm busy and before I know it I end up sitting down putting my feet up and just chillin right through to the end of the album. Every time! ... Read More:
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This version of The Planets has replaced my recent LSO version.
Why? Well, the balance between the contributing elements is the best i've heard so far: The bass is thunderous analogue and the high woodwind/strings are like crystal in equal measure. This is a superb achievement and exceptionally important for, 'large orchestra' where Dynamics become a recording engineer's delight or problem depending on how good they are. And these people are the best: Abbey road have done a fantastic job on the remastering of a late 70's classic, although there is one thing they could never tackle: Is this as Holst intended?
Bolt was a friend of Holst and was given the opportunity to first conduct the piece; Bolt read and heard the original 'two piano' score and must have ... Read More:
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Una de las mas maravillosas voces que he escuchado en toda mi vida, este es uno de esos albumes que nunca se olvidan y le llegan a uno al fondo del corazon; Katherine le ha dado un nuevo lugar en el mundo a la musica clasica; temas magnificos como el NESSUM DORMA, grandes baladas como OVER THE RAINBOW, ALL THINGS ARE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL o AMAZING GRACE, la tonada clasica italiana TORNA SURRIENTO (una excelente competidora de la version de Elvis Presley "Surrender"), en resumen, una preciosa coleccion de bellas melodias de ayer y hoy en una voz que pareciera venir de los ángeles; imprescindible para todo amante de lo clásico y las melodias romanticas.
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Una de las mas maravillosas voces que he escuchado en toda mi vida, este es uno de esos albumes que nunca se olvidan y le llegan a uno al fondo del corazon; Katherine le ha dado un nuevo lugar en el mundo a la musica clasica; temas magnificos como el NESSUM DORMA, grandes baladas como OVER THE RAINBOW, ALL THINGS ARE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL o AMAZING GRACE, la tonada clasica italiana TORNA SURRIENTO (una excelente competidora de la version de Elvis Presley "Surrender"), en resumen, una preciosa coleccion de bellas melodias de ayer y hoy en una voz que pareciera venir de los ángeles; imprescindible para todo amante de lo clásico y las melodias romanticas.
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Classic FM has attempted to provide the classical music version of `rock anthems' to shake your head and punch the air to, an equivalent of Rainbow's `Long Live Rock 'n' Roll' anthem of the 1970's. Does it work? Yes of course it does because the Classic FM marketing team are in touch with the needs of today's classical music listeners.
The track list is comfortably predictable - Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner), Carmina Burana (Orff), Jupiter (from Holst's Planets), Pomp & Circumstance (Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory), A Night on a Bare Mountain (Mussorgsky) and many, many more.
Those `many more' include three outstanding performances - Alfie Boe's version of Nessun Dorma, David Garrett's virtuoso (and breathtakingly fast) violin performance of Flight ... Read More:
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These are deeply felt and captivating performances of Pärt's best-known works. My favourite Spiegel im Spiegel is played a bit too fast, but Tasmin Little's playing is wonderfully refined and imaginative, if not so deep as Shaham's accliamed version.
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Truly amazing voices that will send you into a dreamy haze!! A perfect gift for anyone especially with Christmas fast approaching - not too mention once for yourshelf .............. You wont be disappointed ...
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I will admit that when I first saw the track listing for this CD, I felt disappointed. "Come on!" I thought, "Katherine should be more original than this! Practically every soprano records 'O Mio Babbino Caro' at one point or another, and here are two common songs from the classical crossover genre, 'Nella Fantasia' and 'The Prayer'. Should I even invest in something that will only be a re-hash of things I have already heard many times?" In the end however, I decided that even with the unimaginative song selections, I would buy this CD.
I am very glad I did! There are so many gems here that I now consider this Katherine's best album. Surprisingly, "Nella Fantasia" instantly became a favorite of mine. Her rich, warm tones really brought this song to life in a way I had never heard ... Read More:
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The quality of the accompanyments and the production quality are outstanding. This is undoubtedly the best Welsh Male Voice choir recording in my collection.
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